Black, Asian & March Minority Ethnic 2021 Celebrating all cultures, identities and traditions

why we’re trying not to use the term ‘BAME’

Many Black, Asian and minority ethnic people don’t feel valued when people use acronyms and blanket terms like ‘BAME’ to describe them. People can feel lumped together, and like their full identity and experiences aren’t appreciated. We really value the impact that language can have, and so we encourage everyone in our Creative Support community not use Performing the Jerusalema dance in Dudley for IWD! acronyms like this. Instead, be specific Find out more on page 2 about the ethnicity you’re describing and how someone identifies Welcome to our Black, Asian, and themselves e.g. Nigerian, South Asian, Minority Ethnic Month newsletter! or if you do want to refer to multiple groups write them out in full. Throughout March we have been celebrating and supporting our Black, Asian, and minority ethnic service To learn more, check out this video users and staff on our social media and website! We have where people share their experiences, shared their joy and excellence and have learned lots of bbc.in/3cBui7F or this Civil Service wonderful things by listening to each other’s stories about blog, bit.ly/2NkH95B our backgrounds, faiths, and cultures.

This newsletter is absolutely overflowing with interesting things such as facts, recipes, interviews, and more so there Get involved with our Anti- is something for everyone! We’ve also got some important Racism & Affinity networks articles to raise awareness and that will hopefully allow everyone at Creative Support to be even more mindful of Any staff who are passionate about things that our Black, Asian, and minority ethnic service this work can get involved in our users and staff experience. Anti-Racism network, which includes opportunities to share personal A huge thank you to everyone who contributed - it couldn’t experiences, discuss issues and have been done without you. help develop our Action Plan. To get involved or ask any questions just We hope you enjoy reading it and that you find it as email [email protected] interesting as we did putting it together!

UN ANTI RACISM DAY #WORLDAGAINSTRACISM DAY OF ACTION Saturday 20th March - Fighting Racism, Islamaphobia, Antisemitism & Facism 1 Glossary International Women’s Day This year the staff at Dudley Hub and Outreach Services Colourism - This is a form of chose to celebrate International Women’s Day by learning racism where people with darker and performing the Jerusalema dance! They thought it would skin tones are treated more be a good team building exercise, and once they had looked negatively and can experience into the story behind Jerusalema they thought it was a fitting more impacts of racism. It’s also tribute to IWD. when people are treated better because of having lighter skin Jerusalema began in December 2019 tones. when a South African singer Nomcebo Microaggressions - These are Zikode had lyrics come to her. Zikoke forms of discrimination that was a backing singer and just when may be unconscious or subtle. she was about to lose all hope of It’s when someone says or does being heard in the foreground, she something that is offensive wrote the song as a plea for God to based on someone’s identity. It’s answer her prayer. typically something that seems small, but has a lasting effect. An Zikode says that a mixmaster named Master KG called her example would be: “Your name late one evening to come to his studio to listen to new beats. is too difficult to pronounce, can I She listened to his track and the words just came to her. give you a nickname?” read the full The opening line is in Zulu, which is the most widely spoken article on page 8! language in South Africa. It translates to ‘Jerusalema is my home, guide me, take me with you do not leave me here’. Code Switching - This is when They recorded the song that night and since its release in someone changes their speech, December 2019 it has become a worldwide hit! appearance, and other elements of who they are as a person so The Jerusalema Dance Challenge was started by Zikode fans that they can “fit in” to a white in Angola. They made a viral video of dancers eating their space. lunch as everyone moves to the sound of the track, and kickstarted people learning the dance too! Allyship - This means ‘being bit.ly/3bNRwrX an Ally’ and supporting people who are Black, Asian, or from a minority ethnic background. It also means educating yourself on certain topics, challenging yourself and your prejudices, and raising up your Black, Asian or minority ethnic friends and colleagues when they are being ignored or Introducing The Halo Code at insulted. Creative Support! Intersectionality - This is when We are proud to reinforce a culture we recognise that different parts that values diversity and enables of society are marginalised and Black and minority ethnic people to when they overlap it can create be themselves without apology or the added levels of disadvantage. need to accomdate ‘white norms’. This includes characteristics such as race, gender and class. For Find out more on our website example, Black trans women are www.creativesupport.co.uk/ some of the most likely people championing-the-halo-code/ to be a victim of prejudice and violence because of race and gender.

2 Your Farzana Zahir - Service User Stories at Dudley Hub and Outreach Service Sabbiha Kausar - Service User I was born in Pakistan in I was born in Gujar Khan, Pakistan. I am one of a village near Rawalpindi. My father was a eight siblings with four brothers and three sisters. builder and my mother was a housewife. I I grew up in Pakistan and my dad was in the grew up in a village with everyone living in Army during the early years of my life. We owned basic farm-style houses and everyone had a shop with materials and had tailors stitching their own cattle. I loved helping my mom clothing for both women and men. I was keen to cook on the tandoor and helping in the learn how to sew so I did a tailoring course in my village with jobs as most of the village was teen years, learning how to do embroidery and either related or close family friends. We knitting. The Army set up a programme to help didn’t have much but we had community youngsters learn skills for life. love, and that meant the world to me. I loved visiting my relatives in the evening. I had an arranged marriage in 1994. My husband Something I really miss in England are the came to Pakistan and we got married. I was very open spaces and the beautiful scenery. young and felt really excited to settle in a new country. I came to the UK in 1995. The marriage I came to England in 2002, and settled with was arranged through family, but I was happy my husband. I have three lovely boys. My to accept my parents’ wishes. UK life was very health has suffered over the years and I strange and it was stressful at times because of struggle most days. I enjoy the sunshine the language barrier and the clothes, etc. and it when I can as it reminds me of Pakistan. all would be too much at times. I enjoy cooking, and in particular making I am living with my son who makes me feel really biryani. I also love watching Indian dramas proud. It makes me feel good to cook cultural and attending Creative Support’s community dishes I learnt in Pakistan, for my son and myself groups. Creative Support have helped me making kababs and curries. I love sewing Asian to gain confidence and recognise my worth. clothes (such as shalwar and kameez) when I am I am grateful that they are able to provide feeling well in myself. cultural events in the community. This really helps me as I am able to share things with What’s important to me is trying to live a life my family and gives me something to look according to my religion , and being happy. forward to, and allows me to dress up and I enjoy reading the Quran, duas (prayers) and meet my friends in the group. finding out what the prayers mean as I read them in Arabic. I also enjoy watching Asian I am very isolated but I enjoy the social dramas. I loved the cultural days organised by distance walks provided by Creative Support, Creative Support in the community however it helps me talk about things that are due to Covid they have stopped. I am currently worrying me. It’s lovely that I am able to struggling with my mental health but I am also speak to the support workers in my really appreciative of the support Samina and mother tongue and they can Shazia have provided me with over lockdown, relate to my culture and faith. and to have someone who I can talk to in my This really means a lot to me language who understands my culture. as I feel more connected.

Check out our social media pages for more great content throughout this month 3 Judaism is the oldest religion which believes in one God. It has been traced back over 4,000 years! Judaism is also one of the three major Abrahamic religions in the world (to read more about this head to Arise’s interview!). It is interesting as Judaism is considered a religion, a culture, and a nationality as some people can trace their heritage back to the original tribes of Israel in the Middle East. The majority of Jewish people live either in Israel (6.8 million people, 46.7% of the Jewish population) or the US (5.7 million people). The UK is home to over 260,000 Jewish people, making it the fifth largest Jewish population in the world, and the second largest in Europe following France.

A Day in the Life of...

Esther in Stockport have two sets of pots and pans. One set is for general food, and the other is only used during Esther has worked for Creative Support for over Pesach as the foods we eat are restricted. three years as the PA to the Head of Engagement and Learning, and provides support to our One thing we can’t eat is unleavened bread, Training Administrators. In this interview, she so we eat matzah instead which are like big explains what Pesach celebrates and what a crackers. This is because when the Jewish people typical day during Pesach involves. Pesach is also were fleeing from Egypt they didn’t have time to known by its English name - Passover. Pesach let the yeast rise and had to let it dry in the sun, (this year running from 27th March to 4th April) which created matzah. Because of this we aren’t is one of the three major festivals that Jewish allowed to eat things such as flour or use any people celebrate throughout the year, and Esther typical bread ingredients. We also have to have is here to explain why. ‘Pesach certified’ foods, so we can buy things from Kosher shops that have been specially What does Pesach celebrate and how long prepared for Pesach that haven’t been near any does it last for? bread ingredients just in case of contamination.

Pesach lasts for eight days and remembers the Before Passover you would sell your ‘Chametz’ or Jewish exodus during biblical times. During this ‘unleavened’ foods such as bread to non-Jewish period, Jewish people were slaves of the Pharaoh people. It’s a symbolic transaction and doesn’t and were tasked to build his pyramid. Pesach involve the actual sale of the bread, but it means celebrates the Jewish liberation from slavery and it’s been given away and you’ve cleansed your getting out of Egypt and the freedom this gave house. The night before Passover you also do them - although they spent 40 years wandering the symbolic search of the house for anything in the desert afterwards! non-Pesach certified. You wouldn’t normally find something because it’s been taken out of the What does a typical day during Pesach include? house in preparation for Pesach, so families put little bits of bread around the house and people Pesach is centered around lots of things that wander with a candle and a feather and sweep symbolise slavery. During this time we change it up to show that your house is clean and you’re the foods we eat. If you’re Orthodox then you ready to bring Pesach in.

4 The first two days of Passover and the last two There is also a point during the Seder where you are the holy days where we follow Shabbat rules fill a cup of wine to the brim and say a prayer to such as no electricity. In the first two evenings the angel Elijah who is said to visit everyone’s you have a Seder service. Lots of people do the home on Pesach. service in their own homes. Growing up we used to regularly have two Seders at our home where There is also a game for the kids or the youngest we would invite people over for an evening of people at the table. You break a matzah in half prayers and food. Part of its purpose is to talk to and hide one half which the kids have to go children about the Passover story and explain it and find to win a prize. This is known as the to them. Afikomen.

During the evenings we talk about the ten Lots of people have transferred their Seders plagues of Egypt when God was trying to online so that people can still come together, intervene to get the Pharaoh to allow the Jewish but hopefully we’ll be able to celebrate in person people to leave. We have a list of them which again soon. we go through and customarily dip a finger in wine and spill a drop for each one. The first is Over the first two and the last two days of blood, which is when the rivers in Egypt turned Pesach you would also go to Shul (Synagogue) to blood. Others are mainly environmental, such at certain times like you would on Shabbat. as the plague of frogs or locusts. The last plague However, at Shul you’re usually given food but was the death of the firstborn son of every non- during Pesach we can’t as they wouldn’t be able Jewish person and was the one that made the to make the kitchens Pesach certified. Pharaoh change his mind. Can you explain the significance of Pesach as Aside from matzah we also eat symbolic food a holy day in the Jewish Calendar? on a Seder plate. Bitter herbs (Maror) is one of the sections and can be represented by lettuce Pesach is one of the three main festivals, along or more commonly with horseradish root with Shavuot (16th May - 18th May) and Sukkot which we grate and eat with matzah. The bitter (20th September - 27th September). They are herbs represent the hardships of slavery. We known as the Shalosh Regalim or the Three also have an egg in saltwater, the saltwater of Pilgramage Festivals. Pesach is the most like which represents tears while the egg represents Christmas in the non-Jewish calendar. It’s so fertility, growth and new beginnings. We also significant because of the amount of preparation have a burnt shank bone to represent offerings that goes into the festival beforehand, because in the Temple. There is also Charoset which is a it commemorates freedom from slavery and sweet paste made from ground walnuts, apples encourages loved ones to gather together. and a drop of wine which represents the mortar used to build the pyramids. You eat these foods You can click here to learn more about Pesach. at certain points during the evening.

What I love most about my culture Hajera Begum, Service user at Sue Starkey House

“I am Bengali and I love to meet up with my family especially during special occasions. We come together and eat pilau rice, biriyani and paratha. We listen to Bhangra music and dance.

I love to wear my salwar kameez and sari’s. This is something else I love about my culture, the beautiful dresses! I love Bengali weddings! It is a combination of everything I love - food, music, family and sari’s!”

Fact: Bengali is the 8th most spoken language in the world, usually known as “Bangla”

5 Islam is one of the largest major religions in the world and it is the fastest growing! It is estimated that 1.8 billion people are Muslim. Most are either Sunni (1.6 billion people) or Shia (180-230 million people). It is one of the three major Abrahamic religions along with Judaism and Christianity. This means that all three religions come from the sons of Abraham. For Muslims it comes from his eldest son Ishmael. For Jewish people and Christians it is from his second son Isaac. Around 12% of all Muslims live in Indonesia which is the largest Muslim-majority country. 31% of Muslims live in , 20% in the Middle East and North Africa, and 15% in Sub-Saharan Africa.

A Day in the Life of... Arise in Urmston The last ten days of are called Laylat Arise is a Project Manager and has worked at al-Qadr. This is because it was during one of Creative Support for six years! In this interview, these days that the Quran was first sent down he talks us through a typical day during from heaven to the Prophet (PBUH), but we aren’t Ramadan (this year running from 23rd April sure which! Laylat al-Qadr is a really special to 23rd May). Ramadan is one of the most period as we believe that we move closer to important festivals in the Muslim calendar, and Allah through it. We also believe that the door to Arise is here to explain why: heaven is open during this period, and whatever we pray for will come true. What does Ramadan celebrate and how long does it last? What does a typical day during Ramadan Ramadan lasts between 28 and 30 days include? depending on the full cycle of the moon from During the whole month everyone has to change beginning to end. Ramadan is the fourth of the their whole behaviour. This is because of fasting five pillars of Islam, which is what Muslims follow and the rules around it. all over the world. A typical day would begin with getting up as Ramadan is actually one of the in the early as possible - typically around 4am/5am Islamic calendar that is a really holy month and depending on what time sunrise will be and the is special for every Muslim. During the month weather. Sometimes we have to get up at 2am! we are encouraged to abstain from food, drink, We all get up at that time and then we have and bad behaviour. We fast between dawn and Sahur, which is getting something to eat and sunset every day, but this is also dependent on then praying. This is the first time we can eat and the weather! the last time until the sun sets. The first prayer is the first of our five daily prayers and is called the What is the history behind Ramadan? Fajir. The history behind Ramadan is that in Islam we follow the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) and the When the sun sets, we break our fast with . Quran. During this month we celebrate that the We break our fasts with fruit and water and Quran was given to the Prophet (PBUH) and he then we perform the obligatory prayer called was instructed by the angel Jibreel (Gabriel) to taraweeh. We then eat a normal sized meal, we start reading. The Prophet (PBUH) couldn’t write, don’t want to stuff ourselves! so he instructed his disciples to help him write the Quran as we know it.

6 During the day when you’re fasting, we’re still Is Ramadan one of the most important holy allowed to go on with our normal day at work. times in Islam? We do need to make sure we manage ourselves Yes, it’s one of the most important and it only physically and emotionally so we don’t injure comes once a year. Everyone needs to make sure ourselves during the fast. we really follow the guidelines of Islam during this time. This month is where we practice self- We don’t have a certain food to eat during this disciple, self-control, sacrifice, and empathy. time, just a normal meal so that it keeps us We’re reminded that we’re doing this for strong and keeps us going all day. One of the big ourselves and not for anyone else. things is trying to gather people to eat together and break the fast together. Do you have any personal stories about Ramdan? During Ramadan we also focus on Zakat which When I was young my parents didn’t force us to is another pillar in Islam. Zakat means being take part in the fasting. We would wake up with charitable or giving alms to people and reaching my parents in the middle of the night, and then out to people in need. In Islam the Prophet go to school and eat, and then eat again during (PBUH) says that ‘you should check seven doors the night. It helped me to understand more to your right, seven doors to your left, seven doors about the world including how to help, interact to your front and seven doors to your back’. This with and support people. means to check in on the people around you and see if they need any help, and then you should In 2018 I was diagnosed with diabetes, so in go and help others. This can be with food or a 2019 I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to donation. fast. Fast forward to 2020 I took the plunge and I did everything during Ramadan that I usually After Ramadan we have a big celebration called would, and then afterwards when I went to the Eid Al-Fitr. Everyone comes together and has doctor’s for my checkup, they gave me a good a proper meal so that we can celebrate, enjoy review! This was because I was fasting but ourselves and thank God at the same time. We’re also watching what I was eating. I’m hoping to also encouraged to be charitable and give food improve even more on that this year - there’s a to people during Eid Al-Fitr too. lot of junk food in the UK!

Religious Festivals Calendar - April & May 2021

April 27th April Hanuman New Year - Buddhism 27th April Hanuman Jayanti - Hindu 27th March Pesach/Passover - Jewish - 4th April 29th April Lag B’Omer - Jewish 1st April Maundy Thursday - Christian M ay 2nd April Rama Navami - Hindu 1st May Beltane - Pagan/Neo-Pagan Good Friday - Christian 2nd April 9th May Laylat al-Qadr - Muslim 4th April Easter Sunday - Christian End of Ramadan, start of 12th May 5th April Easter Monday - Christian Eid Al-Fitr - Muslim 12th April Ramadan begins - Muslim 12th May Chaand Raat - Muslim 12th April Hindi New Year - Hindu 13th May Ascension of Jesus - Christian 13th April Vaisakh - Sikh and Hindu 14th May Akshaya Tritiya - Hindu Ugadi/Gudi Padwa/Telugu 16th - 18th 13th April Shavuot - Jewish New Year - Hindu May 14th April Tamil New Year- Hindu 23rd May Pentecost - Christian 18th April Guru Angas Dev Birthday - Sikh 26th May Vesak - Buddha Day - Buddhism 30th May Trinity Sunday - Christian

7 “Where are you Microaggressions REALLY from?”

When we talk about microaggressions, we mean the subtle or unconscious things people say or do that hurt a marginalised group. For example, LGBT+ communities, women, disabled people, Black & Asian people can all experience different microaggressions.

It’s more than just being a bit rude. Microaggressions are based on stereotypes or judgements we make about a person because of their race, gender, sexuality, religion etc. These can be on purpose, but a lot of the time they are things that aren’t intended or even recognised by the person doing it.

In terms of racial microaggressions, our society has a very deep bias towards ‘white looks’ and ‘white culture’ as normal or better. Our actions can be heavily influenced by this but we don’t always recognise it.

This is why it’s such a problem. Microaggressions happen causally and frequently in everyday life. They can be a look, comment, question or action and a lot of the time might seem like a compliment or a joke. Some of the many common microaggressions people experience include:

• Calling someone the wrong name or deliberately avoiding using their full name because it’s ‘foreign’ or ‘hard to say’ • Mixing people up when they look nothing alike expect for both being Black or Asian • Being asked ‘where are you from’ and ‘but where are you really from’ (really saying: people who aren’t white can’t be from the UK) • ‘You speak really good English / you speak really well’ (really saying: someone of colour couldn’t be English or speak in a certain way) • ‘I didn’t expect you to be Black from the phone’ (again, really saying: someone’s voice, accent, intelligence or conversation couldn’t be that race) • Complimenting or stating surprise at any aspect of someone’s skills, qualifications, job, accent, hobbies etc. (really saying: someone of that race couldn’t be capable of these things) • People acting nervously e.g. around Black men or women wearing a niqab (really saying: you are dangerous because of your religion or skin colour) • ‘You’re really pretty for a Black girl’ (really saying: Black is less pretty that white) • Asking if someone’s hair is real, asking to touch it, or just touching it without asking! • Assuming someone has knowledge or always asking them about a particular faith or country (really saying: all Black ethnicities are the same, you’re Asian so must be Muslim etc.) • Assuming someone is an assistant (and not the manager or doctor) • Suggesting someone should play basketball, or go into IT (because of their race) • Describing someone’s looks, clothes, food etc. as exotic or unusual (really saying: you don’t belong, even if comments are supposed to be a compliment) • Denying or brushing off that these behaviours are based on race, or saying it’s harmless

These might seem small, but the impact is very damaging for people. People describe how microaggressions make them feel unaccepted, not good enough, ugly, unimportant, unwanted, uncomfortable or ashamed. When they happen all the time, it can really impact your self-esteem and mental health.

We can all do something to make a positive change though! Always try and think about how other people might feel about what you’re saying. A good thing you can do to check your actions is ask yourself ‘would I do that if they were a white person?’. You can also try and learn about as many examples of microaggressions as you can, so you can spot them and not do them.

8 people follow by example too. If you act positively to include and support people in situations, others How to Be will see and do this too.

4. Make sure that conversations don’t become an Ally All about you You might feel shocked and sad if you realise you have hurt someone before, and you may want to tell them how bad you feel. However, sometimes Year Round this adds another burden for the person to make you feel better. Depending on the situation, decide When we think of allyship, it’s easy to just think if you need to apologise, but after that move about big actions and protests, but being an ally forward. for Black, Asian and other minoritised people is something we can all be doing in our everyday 5. Stand up for what you believe lives. If something feels wrong, it probably is. When someone does something or says things you Being an ally means making the effort to think are wrong we have to try our best to speak understand people’s experience and how that out. This can be especially difficult if it’s a family might be different to yours, being accountable and member or a colleague at work but it is everyone’s using your voice to make others accountable too. responsibility to act. Be prepared that people might How to do this in practice isn’t always easy, but it is act defensively, but it doesn’t mean that what you important not to let that stop you from trying! say doesn’t sink in later. If you aren’t sure what to do, some good things to say can be: Take a look at our guide for some key things you can do:

1. Start with yourself Changing your own choices & behaviour is one of the most important things you can do. This means not being on ‘auto-pilot’ and starting to look carefully at your actions. Lots of things will influence you - things you learnt growing up, the news you hear or your social circle. Self-reflecting helps us become more aware of things we say and do that may be hurtful to people who are not white. When we understand our bias, we can make a conscious effort to make choices that support the people of colour around us.

2. Keep learning This doesn’t mean asking Black & Asian people to explain things to you. It does mean finding 6. You will make mistakes materials, books, podcasts, TV programmes, It’s really important to remember that being an documentaries, blogs (whatever you like!) and ally isn’t about being perfect or knowing the ‘right’ listening openly to the people around you. Being thing all the time, or being ‘woke’. Sometimes you an ally is about building your knowledge all the will make mistakes. If you realise or someone tells time, and not placing a burden ‘to teach you’. The you that something you’ve done is harmful, it’s more you learn, the more you can show positive difficult, but see this as a chance to learn and not interest in people’s culture or faith, be supportive do it again. Being an ally isn’t about one action or of challenges they face and make sure that people something you reach. It’s a cycle of learning and feel comfortable being themselves around you. acting, resting a moment, and starting again.

3. Raise up voices Remember that confidence and knowledge come There will be times when a Black, Asian or minority with practice, so always keep trying and hold on to ethnic person isn’t being listened to or when the reason that you started. As we keep learning someone is making it hard for them to speak. If you more about what being an ally is and how to do it are there then you need to speak up, adding your better, we can really start positive change! voice to help create space for them. Don’t forget 9 RECIPES

Jollof rice recipe by Lamarra

Jollof rice is a traditional West African dish eaten at every celebration! It is loud, vibrant and bursting with flavour just like its native people!

INGREDIENTS 1 scotch bonnet 2 red onions (large) 4 mugs of rice Tomato purée (3/4 of tube) 4 fresh tomatoes or Bay leaves x3 1 can chopped tomatoes 6 Knorr chicken stock cubes 2 bell peppers 1 tablespoon of dried thyme

LETS GET COOKING

1. Put the peppers, tomatoes, scotch bonnet and one onion into a blender with a little water. Blend until smooth. 2. Dice the red onion, then fry until soft or translucent (make sure oil is hot before frying). 3. Add the tomato purée to the onions and fry together for 5 minutes. Stir frequently to avoid burning. Fry for about 5 minutes to get that sweet, smoky flavuour from the purée, stiring frequently. 4. Once the purée is fried, add the blended pepper mix and fry for a few more minutes (while mixing) and add seasoning. 5. Let it cook for around 15 minutes or until the sauce has thickened. 6. While your sauce is cooking, wash the rice well. Then add to the thickened sauce and stir well. Add enough water so it just covers the rice (not too much water) and stir well again. 7. Leave the jollof rice on a low heat. 8. Cover the lid with foil to avoid any steam from leaving the pot. 9. After 20 minutes uncover and give it a good stir. Let it steam on a low heat and cover again. Stir the jollof rice from the bottom up every 20 minutes. Do not be disheartened at the lack of water, the steam will do the job). 10. Cook for a further 20 minutes, then check and stir. After a total of 1hr 10mins on a low heat, steaming, the jollof rice should be ready. ENJOY!

10 ChapatTi recipe the Desi way by Samina INGREDIENTS

LETS GET 270 grams Atta Chakki Gold 1-2 teaspoons oil (optional) Flour + 1/4 cup for rolling the Around 180ml water needed COOKING roti to knead a soft dough Ghee to brush the chapattis STEP 1: Kneading the dough Put 270 grams of Atta flour in a large bowl. You can also add a little oil (optional). Then start adding the water, little by little. As you add water, mix with your hands to bring the dough together. I needed around 180 ml +1 tablespoon (15 ml) water here. You may need more or less water depending on the kind of flour.

Once the dough has come together, tip out onto a lightly floured surface and start kneading. Knead with the knuckles of your fingers, applying pressure. Fold the dough using your palms and knead again. Keep kneading until the dough feels soft, smooth and pliable. If it feels hard/tight, add little water and knead again. If it feels too sticky/soft, add some dry flour and mix. To test if it is done, press the dough with your fingers and it should leave an impression. Cover the dough with a damp cloth or paper towel and leave to rest for 20 to 30 minutes.

STEP 2: Rolling the chapatti After the dough has rested, give it another quick knead then divide into 12 equal pieces, each weighing around 35 grams. Roll each piece into a ball, using the palms of your hands, making sure there are no cracks.

Put around 1/4 cup Atta on a plate for dusting the dough balls while rolling. Start working with one ball, while you keep the remaining dough balls covered with a damp cloth. Dip the prepared dough ball into the dry flour and dust all over. Start rolling the roti, using a rolling pin. Move the rolling pin lengthwise across the dough applying gentle pressure as you roll. If you are rolling it correctly, the dough will move in circular motion on its own and the roti will roll evenly, though this comes with practice. You can also roll a little and then take the roti and move it round slighlty and roll again. Anytime the dough starts sticking to the rolling pin, dip the roti into the flour and continue rolling. Roll it until you have a 13-15cm diameter thin circular roti.

STEP 3: Cooking the chapatti Heat the tawa (skillet) on a medium-high heat. Make sure the tawa is hot enough before you place the roti on it. Dust any excess flour off the rolled chapatti and place it on the hot tawa. Let it cook for 15- 30 seconds until you see some bubbles on the top side. At this point flip the roti, you don’t want the first side to cook too much. Now, let the other side cook more than the first side, around 30 seconds more, until small brown bubbles appear. Remove the chapati from the tawa using a tong and place it directly on the flame with the first side (which was a little less cooked) directly on the flame. The chapatti if rolled evenly will puff up, flip with a tong to cook the other side as well. The roti is done when it has brown spots, don’t burn it. Apply ghee on the chapattis immediately, put on a plate and keep warm while you cook the rest of the rotis.

Making Chapatti on an Induction Hob (without puffing on flame) Follow the instructions as above but instead of putting it directly onto a flame, once you have cooked both sides, flip again (with the first side back on the bottom), press the chappatti with a paper towel, any cotton cloth or spatula. It will puff up. Flip again to cook the other side some more. Remove from tawa and brush with ghee.

Enjoy your hot chapatti with a spicy curry!

11 With help from our anti-racism network, we’ve pulled together some READ of our favourite Black, Asian and minority ethnic books, films, tv shows and podcasts. So whether your in the mood to learn, fancy a hard WATCH hitting drama or just want to something easy to chill out to, we’ve got you covered. Some of the suggestions might include topics that are challenging or upsetting. Please check any content and trigger LISTEN warnings before you get stuck in.

Want to chill? Want to learn? Want some DRAMa?

WATCH - Film ‘Coco’ from READ - Non-fiction book Why‘ WATCH - TV show ‘I May Disney Pixar I’m No Longer Talking to White Destroy You’ from Michaela People About Race’ by Reni Coel READ - Fiction novel ‘Girl, Eddo-Lodge Woman, Other’ by Bernadine READ - Fiction novel ‘Queenie’ Evaristo WATCH - TV series ‘Small Axe’ by Candice Carty-Willims by Steve McQueen WATCH - TV shows WATCH - Film ‘Fruitvale in ‘Shondaland’ from READ - Essay collection ‘The Station’ from Ryan Coogler powerhouse Shonda Rhimes, Good Immigrant’ edited by such as Grey’s Anatomy or Nikesh Shukla READ - Poetry collection ‘Night Scandal by WATCH - Docuseries ‘The Sky With Exit Wounds’ Ocean Vuong WATCH - Tv show ‘How To Journey of An African Colony’ Get Away With Murder’ narrated by Olasupo Shasore READ - Fiction novel ‘Sing, LISTEN - Music by Beyoncé, LISTEN - The ‘What is This Unburied, Sing’ by Jesmyn including her ‘Lemonade’ Behaviour?’ podcast Ward album READ - Non-fiction book‘There WATCH - Film ‘Belle’ from LISTEN - Michael Kiwanuka Ain’t No Black in the Union Amma Asante latest album ‘Kiwanuka’ Jack’ by Paul Gilroy

The British Nai-jama Where separate entities form unique unions. Jollof, Jerk and A fry up with Is what I call myself bacon. To explain my unique mix The meal prep of the week The concoction of identities for a British born, Nigerian - Which compliments and conflicts Jamaican. Combined together Spiritually vs scientifically Like chicken, chips and rice Ancestral vs wealth knowledge I have in me the British rain Naturally but technically and the African sun rise Working in my DNA agreeably My ethnic identities are And as it all lives in me like siblings living in my body Cultural stories and recipes, Overlapping with their different To me, was given, a word of advice, manners, cultures and hobbies. To remember that some of my British friends I switch between my identity Can’t handle my cooked Naijama spice! as easy as changing the channel But the beauty of it lies in the fusion. by LamARRA ALO, Graduate Development Officer and Activities Co-ordinator

Check out our social media pages for more great things to read, watch and listen to this month @crtvspprt